Friday, January 1, 1904
Father's Day is a day to celebrate dads for who they are and all they do.
Dads who smoke can celebrate Father's Day by quitting and by taking actions to protect their kids from becoming one of the tobacco industry's addicted customers and victims. Here are some ways:
If you smoke, quit. Ask your physician for help. Call 1-800-QUITNOW for coaching.
Maintain a totally smoke-free home.
Educate your child about the dangers of smoking (nicotine addiction, the immediate health effects and the effects on physical appearance) and the dangers of secondhand smoke, inside or outside. (Fifty percent of children ages 3-11 had recent exposure to secondhand smoke during one recent study period.)
Listen, and encourage the child when they make good choices.
Make sure your kids' schools have strong and well-enforced (24/7) tobacco-free grounds.
Dads are one of the most important influencers in their children's lives. You can make a big difference in the choices your kids make.
KEVIN LUSK, Chairman, Smokefree Chattanooga
Our most serious crisis is not financial but a moral crisis. Hollywood sits on our shoulders, and pleasure is god.
Women's dresses are indecent and silly, dancing is simulated sex, music is people in weird clothes screaming profanity to a jungle beat while writhing like tortured souls. TV shows are full of profanity and violence, and the results are self-evident.
Mass murders, serial killers, child pornography, domestic violence, gang warfare, adultery, scandals in high places and youth gone wild. Every day a more horrendous headline, even cannibalism.
The drug war is a farce. Alcohol is a drug; the most addictive, moral-altering and dangerous one. It's involved in the majority of accidents, domestic violence, child abuse, divorce and poverty. It destroys brain cells, liver, pancreas and stomach, but if you don't drink you're not with it. It is sold everywhere.
Where are our churches, and how dare we insult God by saying "God bless America?"
EDNA TAYLOR
It is hard to swallow the puffed-up ignorance of the highly educated who know nothing of our history or regard the God of our Fathers. Maybe these are not ignorant, rather, they simply don't like it.
"When Gen. Washington resigned his commission from the army in 1783, he sent a letter to the governors of the thirteen states which concluded with a prayer: 'Almighty God, we make our earnest prayer that Thou wilt keep the United States in Thy Holy protection, and wilt most graciously be pleased to dispose us all to do justice, to love mercy, and to demean ourselves with that charity, humility, and pacific temper of mind which were the characteristics of the Divine Author of our blessed religion, and without a humble imitation of whose example in these things we can never hope to be a happy nation.'"
Washington's prayer was not a "moment of silence." Let all non-biblical religions be silent while we pray aloud. Praying out loud is a part of our heritage and religion, the best religion, the founders' religion. No king but Jesus, they said. Those who hate him are cursed, the Apostle Paul said.
JUNE GRIFFIN, Dayton, Tenn.
After going to multiple restaurants in our area, I have noticed that there is a lack of vegetarian and vegan-friendly meals. In fact, I only know of one restaurant that entirely dedicates its menu to meatless meals. I'm not saying that every restaurant menu has to be fully vegan friendly, but it would be nice if there were more items on the menus that are vegetarian and vegan friendly.
EMMELINE PARHAM, Lookout Mountain